AFRO-NETS> WHO reports first probable case of SARS in Africa (2)

[Dr Atsu Seake-Kwawu <dratsu_skwawu@yahoo.co.uk>]

WHO reports first probable case of SARS in Africa (2)
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Your comment on the only probable case of SARS in Africa is worrying 
but unfortunately reflects the state of health care on the continent. 
Infrastructure for confirming even the common epidemics is difficult 
to access. In the case of SARS, it is possible only large scale epi-
demics of the disease can arouse public suspicion in the cities. 
Cases in villages are most likely to pass undetected. This is a clar-
ion call for improved health care in developing countries: we live in 
one world, don't we?

If even 1% of the resources the US is using in fighting Saddam were 
made available to Africa, the state of health care can improve to a 
stage were diseases like SARS can be easily identified and reported. 
I was just wondering whether Ghana can contain an epidemic of SARS 
and keep mortality low. Where are the ventilators and the medical 
staff, etc.? 

Dr. Atsu Godwin Seake-Kwawu
MB ChB(Ghana) Dip. HCMTC (Basel) Cert.DHM (Basel), MPH (Antwerp)
District Director of Health Services, North Tongu-Ghana
Accra, Ghana
Tel. +233-21-712600
mailto:dratsu_skwawu@yahoo.co.uk
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